*Our LB grades can and will change as more information comes in from Pro Day workouts, leaked Wonderlic test results, etc. We will update ratings as new info becomes available.
There’s not much magic to this scouting report on Nick Bolton – he’s a solid, legit, smaller (5’11”), thick, technically sound middle linebacker for the NFL…a probable future starter.
There’s no magical story to go with this one. There’s no need to try and hype him past his current status in the draft world – he’s a 2nd-round prospect, sometimes 3rd-round for most every draft service and website I see. There’s no hidden character flaw. There’s no secret metric or tape moment of anything to rise him up to claim him as a 1st-rounder.
Bolton is a shorter, decently athletic, classic interior linebacker. End of story.
His best feature is his work in the run game/as a tackler. You’ll like his highlight tape of solid hits on ballcarriers. He squats in the middle and reads the backfield and makes his moves. Sometimes he’s the winner, sometimes picks the wrong lane or blocked out of the play. Makes technically sound tackles and has a fire hydrant body that hits like a 4.6+ running fire hydrant. Watch him against Alabama, and he takes Najee Harris down solo and doesn’t allow Harris any extra few feet forward – nope, it’s hit and drop and done.
Bolton pass protects ‘OK’. He can get exposed from time-to-time trying to keep up with 6’4”+, taller tight ends, but chasing RBs and WRs on screens, etc., is solid/OK. If there’s going to be a problem at the next level – it’s going to be his east-west ability to cover and chase in the passing game plus his height getting exposed some on short yardage plays/passes.
His Pro Day revealed a ‘C’ to ‘C+’ athlete at middle linebacker. I’d comment his tape is better/quicker than the measurables portray, for what that’s worth.
Bolton has been a 1st-team all-SEC and an academic honor roll student. No flaws in his background check nor any real injury concerns or issues. Everything is just ‘solid’…not magical, not damning. It was, honestly, a boring scouting study – nothing radical in any direction to report out on. Bolton is what he is and is safe in every scouting box you want to check.
Nick Bolton, Through the Lens of Our ILB Scouting Algorithm:
-- 2019 led the SEC in solo tackles (74), which was #4 in all the NCAA.
-- Averaged 9.5 total tackles per game in 2020, averaged 8.6 total tackles per game in 2019 season.
-- Seven or more tackles in a game in 15 of his last 17 games.
2021 Pro Day:
5’11”/237, 10.3” hands, 31.6” arms
4.60 40-time, 2.62 20-yd, 1.70 10-yd
4.50 shuttle, 7.49 three-cone
24 bench reps, 32” vertical, 9’7” broad jump
The Historical ILB Prospects to Whom Nick Bolton Most Compares Within Our System:
As soon as I saw Elandon Roberts as the match it made perfect sense. Roberts was a tackling machine in college. Was a day three pick for New England…and toiled away for the Pats for a few years as a sometimes starter and then followed Brian Flores to Miami in free agency to be a role player/sometimes starter.
|
ILB Score |
Last |
First |
Yr |
College |
H |
H |
W |
|
Tackle, Strngth Metric |
Speed, Agility Metric |
|
7.613 |
Bolton |
Nick |
2021 |
Missouri |
5 |
11.1 |
237 |
|
8.68 |
4.72 |
|
7.682 |
Roberts |
Elandon |
2016 |
Houston |
5 |
11.3 |
234 |
|
8.47 |
5.86 |
|
7.867 |
Oliver |
Marcus |
2017 |
Indiana |
6 |
0.5 |
240 |
|
8.47 |
5.29 |
|
5.454 |
Reed |
Taylor |
2013 |
SMU |
5 |
11.2 |
240 |
|
8.78 |
5.47 |
|
5.085 |
Akins |
Curtis |
2019 |
Memphis |
6 |
0.7 |
235 |
|
7.26 |
5.80 |
|
5.825 |
Smith |
Andre |
2018 |
UNC |
5 |
11.5 |
237 |
|
7.81 |
6.62 |
|
7.842 |
Young |
Kenny |
2018 |
UCLA |
6 |
1.0 |
236 |
|
9.01 |
7.61 |
*A score of 8.00+ is where we see a stronger correlation of LBs going on to become NFL good/great/elite. A score of 10.00+ is more rarefied air in our system, and indicates a greater probability of becoming an NFL elite LB.
All of the LB ratings are based on a 0–10 scale, but a player can score negative, or above a 10.0 in certain instances.
Tackle-Strength Metrics = A combination of several physical and performance measurements. An attempt to classify the LB prospect's ability to stop the run, as well as to gauge how physical the player is, and the likelihood of higher tackle counts in the NFL. All based on profiles of LBs historically.
Speed-Agility Metrics = A combination of several speed, agility, and size measurements...as well as game performance data to profile a LB for speed/agility based on LBs historically. A unique measuring system to look for LBs that profile for quickness, pass-coverage ability, and general ability to cover more ground.
2021 NFL Draft Outlook:
Just about everyone in the NFL Draft game has Bolton as a 2nd-round pick, so it’s a safe assumption that’s what will happen.
If I were an NFL GM, I’d just pass on Bolton at that draft price. His athleticism is not wonderful. He’s a little shorter than I’d like. I’d have more interest in drafting a Nick Niemann and converting him to ILB…giving me a bigger, better athlete in the interior…and one with more athleticism.
NFL Outlook:
The NFL management types love players like Bolton – has the ‘look’ of a nuts and bolts, hardhat and lunch pail, no nonsense, hard-hitting middle linebacker…and that will get him a lot of work/opportunity in the NFL.
4/12/2021
